What’s wrong with my fir trees?? - Ask Extension
I have struggled with Fraser firs and now I’m trying to grow Canaan firs but are having the same oranging of the trees slowly. These firs are still ...
Knowledgebase
What’s wrong with my fir trees?? #812559
Asked September 28, 2022, 9:06 PM EDT
I have struggled with Fraser firs and now I’m trying to grow Canaan firs but are having the same oranging of the trees slowly. These firs are still even potted and it’s starting to happen! Help!
Union County Ohio
Expert Response
https://blog.davey.com/help-a-newly-planted-evergreen-turning-yellow-brown-or-dying/
This article seems appropriate although it is not from a university. For other articles try a word search such as “Fir needles yellowing edu” or use “extension” at the end of your word search.
According to the Davey article your fir could be having a somewhat normal change of color, or there are several issues that could explain the change.
If you need additional ideas please get back to us.
Sorry about your tree. I hope it is something that can be reversed.
Recall that we had an exceptional June into July with little or no rainfall for almost four weeks. A container plant might have suffered during that time.
This article seems appropriate although it is not from a university. For other articles try a word search such as “Fir needles yellowing edu” or use “extension” at the end of your word search.
According to the Davey article your fir could be having a somewhat normal change of color, or there are several issues that could explain the change.
If you need additional ideas please get back to us.
Sorry about your tree. I hope it is something that can be reversed.
Recall that we had an exceptional June into July with little or no rainfall for almost four weeks. A container plant might have suffered during that time.
Thanks for the response. I don’t think this is transplant shock as it’s happened to all my for trees brought on my property for some reason whether in the ground or thriving in a pot prior to coming on the property. The photo I provided was of one in a pot that has been watered on a schedule.
What I didn’t take a photo of are the 20 other firs in pots in the background, all doing the same thing.
I had planted 40 Fraser firs in the spring, they did good for a few months then became over one with bronze looking branches and died. All of those were on a watering schedule also so they they didn’t dry out.
Thoughts?
I have forwarded your question to a friend who will hopefully have some useful information.
The obvious questions to ask are: were the plants well cared for when you got them? Was the nursery asked to replace them? What did they say?
If they all died then whatever they were potted in or their previous life or even genetic makeup should be examined. If there was a disease a sample could be sent for evaluation.
When I hear from my friend I will get back to you.
The obvious questions to ask are: were the plants well cared for when you got them? Was the nursery asked to replace them? What did they say?
If they all died then whatever they were potted in or their previous life or even genetic makeup should be examined. If there was a disease a sample could be sent for evaluation.
When I hear from my friend I will get back to you.
Thanks so much for responding, it’s great to discuss this with someone. The large amount of firs I got this spring came bare root from Chief river nursery. They died a few months after the warranty period so they didn’t replace them.
The new ones came in pots from a local fella that started them bare root last spring from a nursery in Michigan he said. All healthy upon arrival
It is still sticking in my craw that your potted trees all failed. Usually this is due to the soil they are in or water. These plants need an inch of water per week as do all of the plants in your garden. Container plants in sun may need more… much more depending on how pot bound they are. I keep going back to water because it is the most obvious culprit.
I wonder if your water schedule was somehow too little. I also wonder if the nursery where you bought them watered them more than you did. When all plants of the same kind and age die it means the whole group was affected by the same issues.
I am still waiting for a reply from my friend.
I wonder if your water schedule was somehow too little. I also wonder if the nursery where you bought them watered them more than you did. When all plants of the same kind and age die it means the whole group was affected by the same issues.
I am still waiting for a reply from my friend.
I definitely understand the water theory but just don’t know how likely it is as I had the same issues with trees I planted and brand new ones that just got to the property via pots.
Is there anyway to do testing on the tree itself to determine the issue? I’m just tired of wasting money trying to grow firs but I really want to be successful with it.
Thanks for listening!
You can submit a sample of a tree to the plant pathology lab.
https://ppdc.osu.edu/ Download the information and send them a sample. Maybe you could send soil as well. Hope this helps.
https://ppdc.osu.edu/ Download the information and send them a sample. Maybe you could send soil as well. Hope this helps.
